Central Cordoba – Barracas Central

CA Central Cordoba closed up last year with a devastating 8-1 away defeat at Boca Juniors, which stopped a two-game winning streak. Having taken 43 points in 38 games last season, the team are now 21st in the point-average table. As hosts, El Ferrioviario are on four games unbeaten (three wins and one draw) without conceding. The club lost 15 players this summer.

Barracas Central returned to the top flight after 87 years thanks to beating Quilmes on penalties at Racing Club in the second promotion final in December (following a scoreless draw). In fact, they lost only one of the last nine matches in the second tier (the championship final to Tigre at Banfield), winning five and drawing three in regular time. El Guapo are on four away matches unbeaten, with three wins and one stalemate in that stretch. The club recruited 14 new faces to improve the squad ahead of the first-division challenge.

Barracas will play their first division game in 87 years and I can’t imagine a more motivated team than them. They’ve kept the same base of player that promoted in December and should have enough to get at least a draw in this debut.

BET: Barracas Central +0.5 @ 1.85